Looks great George, and it’s nice to see the layout as a whole. Good luck tomorrow!
Mike
@PRR8976 posted:George, Your making the rest of us look bad!
Seriously, it looks pretty sharp.
Tom
Tom,
I don't know about making anyone look bad. A large part of the layout is still in my mind's eye. 
But thank you!
George
Updated 6/23/2024:
I am pleased to report that the Panhandle was visited by 43 people today during its two 2-hour tour windows. 
I think we're going to take some time to relax before diving in again. It was fun, but getting ready was tiring.
More when I know it. 
George
I'm glad you had a good turnout! The layout does look quite good. I wasn't able to make it. My elderly mum is in the hospital getting over pneumonia, and it was our older daughter's birthday. It's always something.
@Mark Boyce posted:I'm glad you had a good turnout! The layout does look quite good. I wasn't able to make it. My elderly mum is in the hospital getting over pneumonia, and it was our older daughter's birthday. It's always something.
Mark, I hope she is feeling better. Next time my friend, next time.
George
Thank you, George! Yes, it is difficult for her in new surroundings with dementia.
Updated 7/1/2024:
- Acquired a hose for the dehumidifier, which will be set-up under the layout when we are not running trains.
- Removed all the hospitality items off the saw-horse table and stored them for the next time.
- Moved the test track equipment from the Weirton peninsula to the saw-horse table.
- Repeated my test of WSX S-2 #207 on the test track. The engine obeys all TMCC commands but is unable to move. Apparently, it has a drive issue. It's going for repairs.
- Repeated my test of the Williams PRR L1s on the test track. Right after ID and Boost, the locomotive whistle begins blowing. Yep, it's still possessed. And it's going for repairs as well.
- Tested my Lionel PRR M1a. It's fine.
- Tested my Sunset/3rd Rail I1s Decapod with the short tender. It checks out fine.
- Ordered a bunch of 10amp, fast-blowing fuses.
Tomorrow the plan is to start working on the switches that cause derailments and shorts.
More when I know it.
George
That’s a bummer about the two persnickety engines. Off to the engine shop for repairs.
Updated 7/2/2024:
- A few days ago, I tried running a small steam switcher, a Williams PRR B6sb, in the Weirton Steel Yard. It was doing well until it encountered the O31 wye at the bottom of the yard where it derailed. I was confused until I realized something about that engine. It's rated for O42 curves! DOH!
Here's what was confusing me. Years ago, I had taken the B6sb through O31 turnouts while going in the forward direction. I knew it couldn't move coupled cars through that size curve because the forward coupler swing is limited (pushing them was no problem, though). I didn't realize that backing through the curve caused a similar bind (probably between the locomotive and the tender). So, as in the real world, there are some places certain locomotives can't access. Fortunately, this switcher will be doing its work in the Steubenville area where switches are O54 or bigger. 
- In working to clear track and take some photos, I successfully (and uneventfully) moved a bunch of trains around today - both Decapods, both E7s, both functioning S-2's, the B6sb (exception noted above), and the K4s. All performed smoothly! Here are a few of those photos.
- We still have some switch locations to debug (hope to get to those tomorrow), and I have found a low spot that I need to adjust. I've had some cars decouple from a switcher at that same O31 wye in the Weirton Steel Yard. The bubble level tells the story.
- I also located and began organizing all my locomotive documentation. These manuals, fact sheets, and directions will end up as an appendix in the layout's operations manual. I want to be able to find them in a pinch.
- Finally, I captured some photos of the Spirit of St. Louis.
More when I know it.
George
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Looking good George.
@G3750 posted:Updated 7/2/2024:
- A few days ago, I tried running a small steam switcher, a Williams PRR B6sb, in the Weirton Steel Yard. It was doing well until it encountered the O31 wye at the bottom of the yard where it derailed. I was confused until I realized something about that engine. It's rated for O42 curves! DOH!
George,
Looks great, but to paraphrase, "A shifter's got to know its limitations."
At least it was an easy problem to figure out.
Good luck moving forward.
Tom
Thank you, Joe and Tom.
I fixed that low spot in the Weirton Steel yard track. This shifter doesn't yet know its limits, but it's trying to find out. In this test, WSX #208 moves 2 hot metal (torpedo) cars over the area without problem.
More when I know it!
George
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Videos (1)
It's great to see trains in that area of the layout! It's going to make for some exciting operations I think.
Man, you'd better get an idler car to run between the locomotive and the hot metal cars. Otherwise, you'll blister that nice green paint job! It's okay for now, since the mill is not yet operational.
Looking good.
@Bob posted:Man, you'd better get an idler car to run between the locomotive and the hot metal cars. Otherwise, you'll blister that nice green paint job! It's okay for now, since the mill is not yet operational.
Looking good.
@BillYo414 Yes, I think operations around the mill are going to be pretty cool, eventually.
@Bob Thank you! But if the condition of prototype engines was any indication, nobody cared about their paint jobs!
Nah, the real reason I need an idler car is because the 1:48 engineer is tired of getting his hair singed off and is going to file a grievance. 
Yeah, that little whiner is going to cost me money! 
Somewhere in my stash is an Old Huff n Puff flat car kit that I intend to turn into an idler car. Someday, after the torrent of high priority fixes and projects slacks off. 
George
